This Little Boy Was Fined for Missing a Birthday Party

No-show fee: extremely petty or the right penalty?

Every parent knows that it's a bit annoying when people don't show up to a party, especially when it's one where the hostess meticulously rations out the fun and food. But one mother took her aggravation to a whole new level when she actually fined a kid for missing her child's birthday celebration.

Five-year-old Alex Nash of Cornwall, England, came home from school one day with an invoice for 15.95 pounds (roughly $24) for being a "No Show" at classmate Charlie Lawrence's birthday party at Plymouth Ski Slope and Snowboard Centre. If they refuse to pay, Charlie's mother, Julie Lawrence, said she will take them to small claims court.

According to The Daily Mail, Alex's mother, Tanya Walsh, tried to contact the mother via Facebook to resolve the matter "amicably." However, she says Lawrence responded by writing, "The amicable way I believe is for you to pay me the money. And let that be a lesson learnt."

Alex's parents had initially confirmed their son's attendance at the birthday party, but later realized that they had double-booked as Alex planned to spend the day with his grandparents. They said they didn't have Lawrence's information to tell her about the change of plans, although Lawrence told The Guardianthat they "had every detail needed to contact me."

Alex's father, Derek Nash, reportedly said "she's not getting a penny out of me."

So far, responses to the invoice have been mixed on social media. Some think it's alarmingly petty and legally unsound, but others are commending Lawrence for at least trying to curtail the lack of common courtesy that people nowadays have when it comes to parties. As one mom argues in her blog post, these types of parties add up to a significant amount of money, time, and stress for the organizer, and the least that parents can do is let them know if they won't show up.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

"Manners, people. If you can't be bothered to go, SAY so before wimping out on the day and landing the host with a bill they didn't need to pay," she wrote.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.